Ukraine Is a Casualty in Obama's Carbon War

The president's reluctance to encourage natural-gas exports limits U.S. ability to battle Russia's use of energy extortion against Europe.

The drill-baby-drill crowd and its Republican benefactors in Congress view the Ukraine crisis as a golden opportunity to pressure the Obama administration to end its foot-dragging on approving new natural-gas export terminals, arguing that the U.S. can batter Russia's economy by competing with it in Europe's natural-gas market. Russia currently supplies about 40% of Europe's gas. Republicans have introduced multiple bills to accelerate the Department of Energy's plant-permitting process.